Fire-kindler



{No Model.)

W. R. E. THARP.

- FIRE KINDLER.

No. 604,438. Patented May 24,1898.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. E. THARP, OF GLIDDEN, IOWA.

FIRE-KINDLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,438, dated May 2 4, 1898.

Application filed June 26, 1897. gerial No. 642,453. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. E. THARP, residing at Glidden, in the county of Carroll and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Fire-Kindler, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of a fire-kindler, and has for its object to provide a device of this class which will be automatically ignited when an alarm-clock connected with it is set ofi.

With this object in view my invention consists in a fire-kindling apparatus comprising a lamp or other vessel provided with a wick and a match, a spring-striker suitably mounted to strike the match when released, an alarm-clock, and mechanism connected there with and operated thereby for igniting the match.

My invention further consists in a mechanism such as described provided with a guide to properly direct the striker in its descent, so that contact with the match-head will be assured.

My invention further consists in the improved construction and arrangment of striker, trigger, and connecting mechanism hereinafter fully described, and afterward specifically pointed out in the claims.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention most nearly appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a view showing the practical operation of my device. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the kindling mechanism detached. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View, and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view, of the trigger to release the striker.

Like letters of reference will indicate similar parts wherever they occur in the different figures of the drawings.

In the practical embodiment of my invention I have shown a stove A, which may be of any ordinary construction, being provided with a grate B.

0 indicates the ash chamber below the grate, and D represents a lamp or vessel of any desirable shape to be placed therein, said lamp being filled with oil or other fluid E. Extending through the top of the lamp or vessel is a tube F to receive a wick G, the lower end thereof being adapted to enter and become saturated with the fluid within the vessel, and H indicates a match to be inserted within the tube F, the headed end thereof being exposed in close proximity to the wick.

I indicates a support of any suitable fireproof material fitted over the tube, provided with an upwardly-extending guideway J, having the lower ends thereof secured in the support. A striker K, consisting of a wire with forward-bent end L and coiled end M, is secured to the support I and projects through the guideway J, whereby it is guided in its movements. 7

M is a trigger pivoted or looped around the wire of the guideway J and having its forward end hooked, as at N, and its rear end straight and normally free.

0 indicates a rod or bar having a hooked end-P to fit over the trigger M, the opposite end thereof being secured in any suitable manner to the alarm-turning key extending outwardly from the rear part of an alarmclock Q, which can be of any desirable construction and placed in any desired position after the connections above described have been made.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description and may be briefly stated as follows: The kindlingwood, 850., necessary to start a fire are first placed in position upon the grate of the stove. The striker K is raised and the hook N engaged therewith to hold it up. The lamp or other vessel carrying the wick and match is then placed in position, the alarm set, and the connections made, as above described.

As the alarm goes off the alarm-clock key on M causing the end L to strike violently upon the headed end of the match, which will at once be ignited, and, lighting the wick, the flame will be communicated to the kindling material within the stove.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide a very simple and efficient device for the purpose specified, whereby a fire can be automatically kindled by the going off of an alarm-clock without the necessity of any attention on the part of the inmate of the house or room.

The many advantages of the construction described Will be obvious, and the device will be specially adapted for use in starting fires in engines, stoves in houses, school-rooms, &c. by merely attaching the several parts together as described and setting the alarm for the time at which the fire is to be kindled. Hence after the setting of the alarm no attention need be given the device until the inmate of the house enters the room,when the several parts can be removed and stored away for future use.

While I have not described the use of any particular material in constructing the lamp or vessel, yet I prefer to make use of some fireproof material, so that in case the lamp or vessel should remain in the ash-chamber any length of time there would be no possibility of the same being injured in any way by the accidental falling of hot embers through the openings of the grate.

Various slight changes might be made in the forms, constructions, and arrangements of the parts described Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not care to limit myself to the exact construction shown and described, but consider myself entitled to all such slight changes as may fall Within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention,

.what I claim as new, and desire to secure by the manner and for the purpose described.

2. A fire-kindler comprising a lamp or vessel having a tube extending upwardly from the top portion thereof, a wick within said tube, a match arranged in proximity to the wick, a support carrying an upright guide, a spring-actuated striker secured near one end of said support, a trigger to hold said striker in a raised position, an alarm-clock, and a bar or rod having one end thereof connected to said trigger and the opposite end attached to a movable part of the alarm-clock, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. An apparatus for kindling fires, comprising a lamp or vessel having an upwardlyextending tube and a wick and match arranged within said tube, a support fitted over said tube, an upwardly-extending guideway on the support, a spring-actuated trigger carf ried by said support, an alarm-clock, and operating mechanism secured to and adapted to be operated by the alarm-clock to ignite the match when the alarm is sounded as and for the purpose described.

WILLIAM R. E. THARP. \Vitnesses:

W. R. HOWARD, F. T. PRILL. 

